The packing box is a fantastic little project because it teaches you some things about handwork that are infrequently discussed, including how to make a square box without shooting the ends of every board before assembly. Oh, and clinching nails.

It is an introduction to mindset of handwork.

So as punishment for not building the packing box, I am uploading an entire chapter from “The Practical Woodworker, Vol. 1” (Waverly Book Co.) on building boxes and packing crates. It’s interesting reading and discusses the many methods for building things with simple nail joinery that have to withstand rough use. I recommend you look it over before you start making those secret mitered dovetails you’ve been considering.

By the by, “The Practical Woodworker” is a four-volume set of English woodworking books edited by Bernard E. Jones and written by a panel of experts in the field of woodwork. If you ever stumble on some copies for sale, I recommend them over the poorly scanned and printed version from 10 Speed Press, which edited down the four volumes into something less than magnificent.

Download the pdf here and get nailing. Don’t make me sic Megan on you.

This was such a large part of Woodworking at the time. Getting good (and eventually speedy) at projects like these would do great things for your productivity as a craftsman. I served a partial apprenticeship as a blacksmith. My first task was drawing out “nail rod” from scrap. Even though I was of the opinion that I was above such things. It taught fire management and hammer control. Did great things for my speed as well. And you end up with some really cool packing containers for your next move. 😉

I’ll admit to never having built a packing box, but I protest that I spent an awful lot of time as a kid trying to build tree forts, which look an awful lot like big packing boxes from certain angles. I had to learn to drive nails well, because all we had were nails salvaged from old buildings, and we usually had to straighten them out before using them because Dad sure wasn’t going to buy us new nails for these projects.

Some companies can still make decent packing boxes for spare parts, while others definitely can’t.
MgDuff protective zink anodes packing boxes are excellent, built of proper pine boards, reinforced the correct places and look good.
Yesterday I opened a packing box from Caterpillar containing an oil cooler. It was so poorly made It is hard to believe. The material was pressed large wood flakes(I don’t know the real name). It split everywhere, the nails had absolutely no holding power, and generallly a disaster. When you need to ship heavy spare parts around the globe, they should reach the end user in a good and safe condition.
SOme companies still employ people just to make the packing boxes for their equipment, but most of them use some sort of plywood nowadays.
Jonas

My Personal Site & Gallery

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